Jennifer Aniston was born in Sherman Oaks, California, to a family of accomplished actors, John Aniston and Nancy Dow. Her father, of Greek descent, and her mother, of mixed English, Irish, Scottish, and Italian heritage, instilled in her a rich cultural background. As a young child, Jennifer spent a year of her formative years living in Greece with her family, an experience that likely influenced her future endeavors.
As her family relocated to New York City, Jennifer's parents divorced when she was just nine years old. Her mother, Nancy, took on the responsibility of raising Jennifer, while her father, John, pursued his own acting career, landing a notable role as "Victor Kiriakis" on the popular daytime soap opera, Days of Our Lives.
Jennifer's early exposure to the world of acting began at the tender age of 11 when she joined the drama club at the Rudolf Steiner School. It was during this time that she developed a deep passion for the arts, which would later become a defining characteristic of her career. As a student at the Rudolf Steiner School, Jennifer also discovered her artistic talents, which would serve her well in her future endeavors.
After completing her education, Jennifer pursued professional training as a drama student at the prestigious School of Performing Arts, also known as the "Fame" school, a division of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and the Arts. Her early professional endeavors included appearances in Off-Broadway productions, such as "For Dear Life" and "Dancing on Checker's Grave," in 1987.
In 1990, Jennifer landed her first television role as a series regular on Molloy, followed by appearances in The Edge, Ferris Bueller, and a recurring part on Herman's Head. However, by 1993, she found herself struggling to find her footing in the competitive world of entertainment.
It wasn't until 1994, when a pilot called "Friends Like These" came along, that Jennifer's fortunes began to change. Initially asked to audition for the role of "Monica," Jennifer refused and instead auditioned for the role of "Rachel Green," the lovable and charming suburban princess turned coffee peddler. The success of the series Friends, which premiered in 1994, catapulted Jennifer to fame, and she has since leveraged her newfound stardom to secure coveted movie roles during the show's hiatus.
